Please Grade this Practice SAT Essay

<p>First attempt -.-.</p>

<p>Prompt: Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better. </p>

<p>What is you view on the idea that how people respond to change reflects their character? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experiences or observations. </p>

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<p>Change is the force that drives the world. Change inspires, delights, angers and confuses us, but without change life would be stagnant. How people respond to different changes in their life reflects their character accurately, what matters is not what happened but how they respond.
Reacting positively to change can reflect strong personality. Take, for instance, Abraham Lincoln during the civil war. At first it looked as though the south might secede peacefully from the union, but when they began to fire on Sumter that all changed. Instead of loosing his cool, Lincoln mastered the change, and used that opportunity to his advantage. Another example of embracing change positively would be the character of Eragon in the Inheritance Cycle. When he learns that the mysterious rock he found was actually a dragon egg he embraces it and eventually overthrows the tyrannical leader galbatrox. People that react well to change are not shortsighted and learn to adapt to their environment and maximize opportunities.
However, reacting negatively to change can reveal a lack of character. People too obstinate, bull-headed or defiant to change their nature generally show a lack of flexibility. Take James Harrison of the Pittsburg Steelers for example. In his earlier days in the National Football league illegal hitting calls and fines were rarely made. Now, however, with Roger Goodell harping on any sort of illegal hit, James Harrison has amassed numerous fines. Instead of changing his behavior on the field, Harrison continues to play recklessly, showing a la ck of willingness to adapt. People who do not respond well to change, show inflexibility, which hurts them in the long run.
As Charles Darwin stipulated, life is all about survival of the fittest. Adapting to the environment around you and responding well to change, gives you numerous advantages. But, if you don’t respond well to change you will be left behind, as Darwin said, you’re not the fittest. Response to change is an accurate assessment of Character because there are only so many things you can control in life, and only you can choose how to respond in any given situation.</p>